Self sealing container



May 18, 19 A. GREENE E TAL 4 SELF SEALING CONTAINER Filed May 26, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2 FIG. 3

A 24A 24A -INVENTOR-5 Abbof Greene BY Paul Densen JMM ATTORNEY May 18,1965 A. GREENE ETAL SELF SEALING CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May26, 1964 FIG. 8

INVENTORS A b but G re ene By Paul Densen ATTORNEY United States Patent3,184,144 SELF SEALING CONTAINER Abbot Greene, 24 Carter Road, and PaulDensen, 27 Colony Drive 131., both of West Orange, NJ. Filed May 26,1964, Ser. No. 370,192 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-37) This invention elates ingeneral to a self sealing container, and more specifically to aquadrilateral, collapsible, self sealing container which is constructedand arranged so as to prevent portions of the same container or ofadjacent containers in a stack of similarly constructed collapsiblecontainers from sticking to one another.

Considerable efforts have been expended in the past in an attempt tomake a container, preferably of corrugated or solid fiber typecardboard, paperboard and the like, which can be secured or be renderedself sealing by the employing of a pressure sensitive adhesive coating,which, when in the collapsed state, will not adhere to itself and/ or toother similarly constructed containers when stacked one upon the other.Heretofore, most of the efforts to overcome the problem have beendirected to modifying or altering the general shape of the blanks fromwhich such containers have been formed in order to solve the dilemma inthe art. However, this type of solution detracted from the use of thestandard blank construction which is the most economical to manufactureand use, and that for this reason, the most widely favored of the knownblank constructions. The containers made from such most economical blankconstruction are generally referred to in the art as a regular slottedcontainer.

The regulated slotted container is generally formed from a single blankof sheet material, die cut and scored so as to define opposed side andend panels which are connected into end to end relationship, and which,when folded, define a closed quadrilateral figure that may be eithersquare or rectangular in cross section. Connected to the respectiveupper and lower edges of the side and end panels are hinged closureflaps. The respective closure flaps may be constructed so that whenfolded, one or both pairs of the opposed flaps have their free endsdisposed in substantially abutting relationship. For this reason, thehinged flaps generally do not exceed more than one half the length ofthe side or end panels disposed adjacent the panel to which saidrespective flaps are hinged.

Such slotted containers are generally shipped to the user in theircollapsed state stacked one on the other. The rectangular containers,that is one in which the side panels are longer than the end panelsthereof, portions of the opposed side panel flaps overlap one another inthe collapsed position of the container. For this reason, the flaps ofself sealing containers would tend to stick to one another, whencollapsed, or when stacked, on one another as in the shipment of thesame.

US. Patent No. 2,874,891 discloses an effort to overcome this stickingproblem with self sealing containers. However, the patented disclosurehas a disadvantage in that only a limited surface area of the respectiveflaps could be utilized for receiving an adhesive coating necessary forrendering the flap self sealing. In the patented construction, theavailable coated area is limited because of specific manner in which theflaps were required to be dd l idd Patented May 18, 1965 coated so as toavoid the objection of having the opposed flaps from sticking to oneanother in the collapsed position, of the container. Because of thelimited coated area, the flaps could be easily or accidentally priedloose, and thereby the use and strength of such containers wereadversely affected.

Since the area of the coated and uncoated portions of the overlappingportions of the opposed side panel flaps is fixed in the collapsedposition of the container for a given size container, the problem to besolved was how to increase the adhesively coated surface area of suchoverlapping flap areas to enhance the holding quality thereof andconsequently the strength of the container, while at the same timeprohibiting the opposed coated portions of the overlapped flaps frominterfering or sticking with one another in the collapsed position.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improvedregular slotted container in which its strength and versatility of thecontainer is enhanced providing for more surface area of the flaps inthe overlapping portions thereof to be coated with a layer of adhesivematerial.

Another object of this invention is to provide the flaps of a slottedcontainer with a maximum surface area of an adhesive coating material byapplying the coating material in narrow longitudinally extending stripswhich extend substantially the length of the respective side panel fias.

Another object is to provide an improved self-sealing slotted containerthat is relatively simple in construction, positive in operation andrelatively inexpensive to fabricate.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision wherein each of therespective side panel flaps are provided with a plurality of alternatelyspaced strips of coated and uncoated portions which extend substantiallylongitudinal length of the flap so that in the collapsed position of thecarton, the overlapping end portions of the respective opposed sidepanel flaps have the coated strip portions thereof disposed incontacting relationship with the uncoated strip portion of theoppositely disposed side panel flaps.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent whenconsidered in view of the drawings and description in which,

FIGURE 1 is an expanded view of the blank from which a slotted containeris formed in accordance with this invention, with the inside surfacebeing shown face up.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the blank of FIG. 1 folded in the collapsedposition of the container.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a perspective view of the container in a partiallyerected position.

FIGURE 4 illustrates another perspective erected view of the containerof FIG. 3 shown in a manner to better illustrate the coated portions ofthe flaps in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 5 is atop plan view of the container illustrating the flaps intheir closed position.

FIGURE 6 illustrates two similarly constructed collapsed containersshowing how they can be readily stacked one upon the other in theircollapsed state without sticking to one another.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 2.

FIGURE 8 is an expanded inside View of a modified blank construction forforming a modified slotted container. I

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view illustrating a slotted container formedof the blank construction of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 an expanded blankconstruction from which a rectangular slotted container 21 is formed inaccordance with this invention. As shown, the blank construction 20 isdie cut and scored so as to define a front panel connected in end to endrelationship. The arrangement is such that the respective panels 22, 23,24 and 25 can be readily folded along transversely extending foldlinesF1, F2, F3, so as to define a substantially rectangular shaped containeras shown in FIG. 4. The upper and lower edge. portions of the respectivefront 22, ends 23, 25 and back 24 panels have hingedly connected theretoclosure flaps which in the erected position of the con- .tainer areadapted to be folded to define the top and bottom of the container. Asshown, flaps 22A and 22B are connected to the opposed edge portions ofthe front panel 22, flaps 23A and 23B are hingedly connected to theopposed edge portions of the end panel 23, flaps 24A and 24B areconnected to the opposed edges of the back panel 24, and flaps 25A and25B are connected to the opposed edges of the other end panel 25.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the width of therespective closure flaps 22A, 2213; 23A, 23B; 24A, 24B; 25A, 25B aremade substantially uniform. Generally, however, the width of therespective flaps does not exceed more than one half the length of theside or end panels adjacent the panel to which the respective flap isconnected. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the flaps 22A, 22B and 24A,24B are connected to the respective front and back panels 22 and 24, donot exceed more than one half the width of the end panels 23 or 25'.Thus, in

the folded position of the container, the flaps 22A, 23A

and 22B and 23B which define respectively the top and bottom portion ofthe container have their free edges disposed in substantially abuttingor contiguous relationship, as best seen in FIG. 5 and wherein theyoverlie the adjacent end flaps 23A and 25A.

In the collapsed position, blank 20 is folded so that the free edge 22Cof the front panel 22 is disposed contiguous to the free edge 25C of theend panel 25 so that the respective panels 22, 25 can be secured in thefolded position thereof by a suitable securing means as for. example, astrip of adhesive tape 26 or the like. Thus, the panels'so secureddefine closed quadrilateral figure of the container, when it is erectedas best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be noted that in the folded collapsedposition of the blank 20, the diagonally disposed opposed end portionsof the flaps 22A, 24A and 22B, 24B overlap in the collapsed position ofthe container. For this reason, the instant invention contemplates aunique disposition of pressure sensitive adhesive coating to theoverlying portions of the respective side panel flaps 22A, 22B and 24A,24B so as to enhance their respective holding or strengthcharacteristics as will be hereinafter described.

In order to render the container 21 of this invention self-sealing, eachof the respective flaps 22A, 22B; 23A, 23B; 24A, 24B; and 25A, 253 haveportions thereof coated with a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive ofany suitable or well known brand. As shown, the outside surface of theend flaps 23A, 23B and 25A, 25B has the entire area thereof covered witha coating of pressure sensitive adhesive. In accordance with thisinvention, the inside portions of the side panel flaps 22A, 22B and 24A,24B are coated with a similar pressure sensitive adhesive which isapplied thereto in a plurality of spaced narrow strips 27, 28respectively extending longitudinally and substantially co-ext-ensivethe length of the side panel flap. In the illustrated embodiment, it isto be noted that the strips 27, 28 of coating material are spaced so asto define alterf 4 nate coated and uncoated portions. In accordance withthis invention, the arrangement is such that the coated portions'orstrips 27 extending longitudinally in flaps 22A,

22B are spaced so that they will coincide with the uncoated portions onthe opposed flaps 24A, 24B respectively in the collapsed position of thecarton. Therefore, as it is readily apparent in FIGS. 2 and'7 in thecollapsed position of the carton, the strips 27 in the overlappingportions of the side panel flaps 22A, 22B are arranged so as to be incontacting relationship with the uncoated portions of the other adjacentside panel flaps 24A, 24B. It will therefore be apparent that in thecollapsed position of the carton, because none of the coated surfaces27, 28 of the flaps 22A, 22B and 24A, 24B are disposed in contactingrelationship with the coated portions of the flaps adjacent thereto,that sticking of the respective flaps 22A, 24A and 22B, 2413 to oneanother is prohibited.

In slotted type containers of the type of which this invention pertains,it has been observed that as the rectangular shape of the containerapproaches that of a square, the amount of overlap in the respectiveside panel closure flaps is progressively decreased. For this reason,the adhesive coating which can be applied on the-ends or near the endportions of the side panelfiaps which overlap is seriously restricted asthe square is approached. For this reason, the holding characteristicsof the closure flaps in such cartons is progressively reduced as thecarton size approaches a square. This is'readily apparent when it isnoted that as the end panels increased in width, the amount ofoverlapping portion of the side panel flaps is diminished accordingly.As a result, the amount of area that can be coated with the adhesive isprogressively limited as the square is approached. When this occurs, thebonding or holding force made possible by the coated portions in theoverlapped end portions of the closure flaps of the prior constructionis seriously affected. Thus the str ngth of the container isprogressively reduced as the size of the rectangular containerapproaches that of the square.

With the novel arrangement of the instant invention, the holdingcharacteristics of the respective closure flaps is not reduced as thecontainer size approaches that of a square. This is because by applyingthe adhesive in alternate narrow strips 26, 27 to the respectiveoverlapped portions of the side panel flaps, a sufficient surface areaof the flap is covered to render the bonding thereof positive in theoperative or folded position of the container.

In accordance with this invention, it is desired that the Width of therespective coated and uncoated strips be made small so that the expansebetween coated strips is maintained at a relatively low figure. It iscontemplated that, for example, the strips of coated and uncoatedportions on the respective flaps approximate a width of approximately/2" more or less. Also, the invention contemplates that the coated anduncoated portions or strips on one side panel flap be staggered withrespect to the coated and uncoated strips formed on the other side panelfiap adjacent thereto so that in the collapsed position of thecontainer, the overlapping portions of the respective side panel flaps22A, 24A and 22B, 24B is such that the collapsed position coated portionon one side panel flap will be in facing contact with the uncoated stripon the other side panel flap. In this manner, there is not permitted anywide expanse of coated or uncoated areas in the overlapping portion ofthe respective side panel flaps.

It has therefore been shown, that by having a series of relativelynarrow longitudinally extending strips of adhesive material that thebonding effect atforded thereby is greatly enhanced over that providedby a much fewer number of larger coated areas. Thus, in this form of theinvention, it is to be noted that contiguous portions of the side panelflaps 22A, 22B and 24A, 24B are positively secured to the underlyingfolded end panel flaps 23A, 23B; 25A, 25B in such a manner that apositive bond is afforded thereby.

In a modified form of construction, that is, in containers 40 whereinthe length is greater than width, the blank may be formed so that theend flaps 41A, 41B and 43A, 43B connected to the respective end panels41 and 43 are ex tended so that they will equal to substantially onehalf the length of the respective side panels 42 and 44. Therefore, inthe folded position of the box 40 as best seen in FIG. 9, the free endsof the opposing end flaps 41A, 43A when folded are disposed incontiguous abutting relationship. Since in this form of the invention,the entire outside surface of the end panel flaps 41A, 41B and 43A, 43Bis formed or coated with a pressure senesitive adhe sive, the side panelflaps 42A, 42B and 44A, 44B, which are coated with alternate strips ofcoated and uncoated portions as hereinbefore described when folded intooverlapping position, provide the maximum of holding surface, andthereby insures a most positive bond.

FIGURE 6 illustrates how two collapsed containers may be stacked in amanner so that they not stick to one another. It will be noted that thecontainers 20A and 20B are stacked front to back. Thus, the uncoatedouter surfaces of the side panel flaps 22A, 22B of container ZQB willengage the coated surfaces 23A, 23B of the next adjacent containerstacked thereon. Therefore, so long as the exposed coated portions ofcontainer 20A do not make contact with the coated portion of container298, the respective containers can be readily stacked one on the otherwithout sticking.

Accordingly, the instant construction has particular application in moststandard size slotted type containers which approach a square, but not asquare, that is, one in which the side and ends are proportioned so thatoverlapped portions of the respective side panel flaps define asubstantially rectangular area. Since this shaped container is one ofthe most popular used today, and therefore the most desirable, it isimportant that such containers be made as strong as possible which thephysical limitations thereof will permit. With the instant invention,the versatility and strength of such containers is greatly enhanced.

While the instant invention has been disclosed with reference toparticular embodiments thereof, it is to be appreciated that theinvention is not to be taken as limited to all of the details thereof asmodifications and variations thereof may be made without departing fromthe spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-sealing container which is both collapsible and stackablecomprising,

(a) a blank of sheet material defining opposed side and end panelshingedly connected together in end to end relationship to define in theerected folded position thereof a closed quadrilateral figure,

(b) said side panels being longer than said end panels,

() closure flaps extending from and hingedly connected to the edge ofeach of said side and end panels,

(d) said flaps being substantially coextensive in length with respect totheir connected panels,

(e) the flaps hingedly connected to said end panels having a width nogreater than one-half of the length of said side panels,

( and the flaps hingedly connected to said side panels having a width nogreater than one-half of the length of said end panels,

(3) said flaps in the collapsed position of the container being disposedin face to face contacting relationship whereby the diagonally opposedend portions of the respective side panel flaps are disposed inoverlapping contacting relationship with one another,

(h) and a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive applied to a surfaceportion of each of said flaps,

(1') each of said end panel flaps having its outer surface portioncoated with said adhesive,

(1') and each of said side panel flaps having its respective innersurface coated with pressure sensitive adhesive applied in a pluralityof spaced relatively narrow strips extending substantiallyco-extensively the length of said side panel flaps to define a pluralityof strips of alternately coated and uncoated portions, said strips beingso relatively located in the collapsed position of the container thatthe coated strip portions on one of said side panels coincide with theuncoated strip portions of the other side panel flap so as to prohibitsticking of said side panel flaps in the overlapping portions thereof.

2. A self-sealing container which is both collapsible and stackablecomprising,

(a) a blank of sheet material defining opposed side and end panelshingedly connected together in end to end relationship to define in thefolded position thereof a closed quadrilateral figure.

(b) said side panels being longer than said end panels,

(c) closure flaps extending from and hingedly connected to the edge ofeach of said side and end panels.

(d) said flaps being substantially coextensive in length with respect totheir connected panels,

(e) the flaps hingedly connected to said end panels being equal tosubstantially one-half of the length of said side panels,

(1) and the flaps hingedly connected to said side panels having a widthno greater than one-half of the length of said end panels,

(g) said flaps in the collapsed position of the container being disposedin face to face contacting relationship whereby the diagonally opposedend portions of the respective side panel flaps are disposed inoverlapping contacting relationship With one another,

(it) and a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive applied to a surfaceportion of each of said flaps,

(i) said end panel flaps having substantially the entire outer surfaceportion thereof coated with said adhesive,

(1') and each of said side panel flaps having its respec tive innersurface coated with a plurality of spaced narrow strips of adhesivematerial extending substantially co-extensively the length of said sidepanel flaps to define a plurality of alternate strips of coated anduncoated portions, said strips being so relatively l0- oated that theadhesive coated strip portions on one of said side panels coincide withthe uncoated strip portions of the other side panel flaps in theoverlapped portions of said side panel flaps, and in the folded positionof said container said side panel flaps have substantially one-half ofthe area of said respective side panel flaps positively secured to saidend panel flaps.

3. A self-sealing container which is both collapsible and stackablecomprising,

(a) a blank of sheet material defining opposed side and end panelshingedly connected together to define in the folded position thereof aclosed quadrilateral figure,

(b) said side panels being longer than said end panels,

(c) closure flaps extending from and hingedly con nected to the edge ofeach of said side and end panels,

(d) said flaps being substantially coextensive in length with respect totheir connected panels,

(e) the flaps hingedly connected to said end panels having a Width nogreater than one-half of the length of said side panels,

(f) and the flaps hingedly connected to said side panels having a widthno greater than one-half of the length of said end panels,

(g) said flaps in the collapsed position of the container being disposedin face to face contacting relationship whereby the diagonally opposedend portions of the respective side panel flaps are disposed inoverlapping contacting relationship with one another,

(h) and a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive ap plied to a surfaceportion of each of said flaps,

(i) said end panel flaps having an outer surface portion uncoated stripportions of the other side panel flaps coated with said adhesive, in theoverlapping portions of said side panel flaps. (j) and'each of said sidepanel flaps having its respecr tive inner surface coated with pressuresensitive adf s d by th s mlller hesive to define a plurality of spacedrelatively mm 5 V UNITED STATES PA row strips substantiallycoextensively the length of said side panel flaps and entending parallelto the longitudinal edges of said s1de flaps to define 'alter- 3,116,00812/63 Greene t a1 4 22948 nate strips .of coated and uncoated portions,said strips being so relatively located that the coated strip 10FRANKLIN T GARRETT Primary Examiner portions on one of said side panelscoincide with the

1. A SELF-SEALING CONTAINER WHICH IS BOTH COLLAPSIBLE AND STACKABLECOMPRISING, (A) A BLANK OF SHEET MATERIAL DEFINING OPPOSED SIDE AND ENDPANELS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TOGETHER IN END TO END RELATIONSHIP TO DEFINEIN THE ERECTED FOLDED POSITION THEREOF A CLOSED QUADRILATERAL FIGURE,(B) SAID SIDE PANELS BEING LONGER THAN SAID END PANELS, (C) CLOSUREFLAPS EXTENDING FROM AND HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE EDGE OF EACH OF SAIDSIDE AND END PANELS, (D) SAID FLAPS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE INLENGTH WITH RESPECT TO THEIR CONNECTED PANELS, (E) THE FLAPS HINGEDLYCONNECTED TO SAID END PANELS HAVING A WIDTH NO GREATER THAN ONE-HALF OFTHE LENGTH OF SAID SIDE PANELS, (F) AND THE FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TOSAID SIDE PANELS HAVING A WIDTH NO GREATER THAN ONE-HALF OF THE LENGTHOF SAID END PANELS, (G) SAID FLAPS IN THE COLLAPSIBLE POSITION OF THECONTAINER BEING DISPOSED IN FACE TO FACE CONTACTING RELATIONSHIP WHEREBYTHE DIAGONALLY OPPOSED END PORTIONS OF THE RESPECTIVE SIDE PANELS FLAPSARE DISPOSED IN OVERLAPPING CONTACTING RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER,(H) AND A COATING OF PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE APPLIED TO A SURFACEPORTION OF EACH OF SAID FLAPS, (I) EACH OF SAID END PANEL FLAPS HAVINGITS OUTER SURFACE PORTION COATED WITH SAID ADHESIVE, (J) AND EACH OFSAID SIDE PANEL FLAPS HAVING ITS RESPECTIVE INNER SURFACE COATED WITHPRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE APPLIED IN A PLURALITY OF SPACED RELATIVELYNARROW STRIPS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY CO-EXTENSIVELY THE LENGTH OF SAIDSIDE PANEL FLAPS TO DEFINE A PLURALITY OF STRIPS OF ALTERNATELY COATEDAND UNCOATED PORTIONS, SAID STRIP BEING SO RELATIVELY LOCATED IN THECOLLAPSED POSITION OF THE CONTAINER THAT THE COATED STRIP PORTIONS ONONE OF SAID SIDE PANELS COINCIDE WITH THE UNCOATED STRIP PORTIONS OF THEOTHER SIDE PANEL FLAP SO AS TO PROHIBIT STICKING OF SAID SIDE PANELFLAPS IN THE OVERLAPPING PORTIONS THEREOF.